3

In middle school I was a nobody. A nothing. Even less of an entity than I was now.

My group was pretty low down on the social ladder, we were kids really, but they all went off to a different high school and on my first day I was completely alone. That's when I ran into Kitty Delle, aside from having one of the stupidest names to have ever been conducted, Kitty was the opposite of me. If she walked into a room you would notice. She was a somebody, but like me she was alone so we attached to each other. And she changed me, after four months I was someone else. And that somebody else thought she was in love like the stupid fourteen year old she was, so Kitty dolled me up and sent me straight into what was the worst thing possible. Then as the rumors spread she just sat there and laughed, told me to lighten up, and probably spread a few herself.

Kitty Delle probably doesn't remember me anymore, but I remember her as the worst friend that I have ever had. I don't even want to think about the other person.

The next morning was suspiciously sunny, cotton clouds in the blue sky and a gentle breeze. I woke up absolutely shattered from a fifth late night in a row, but the first thing my eyes saw was the picture of me and Ethan together on the beach when I was sixteen. I smiled, lying there for a second before my sister banged on my door.

'Get up bitch' she shrieked, angrily.

I groaned 'don't swear' I yelled back.

'I'll do what I like' she replied, I stood up and wrenched open my door. Nina stood there trying to look tough but she was so small it was just very funny.

'You're thirteen' I reminded her 'what's wrong? Did you break your hello kitty lunchbox?'

'Shut up bitch' she retorted.

'Go put on some clothes' I indicated to her shorts and she flounced off muttering charming words about me under her breath. I changed into my favorite skirt, that one that Ethan had always loved, it was pale blue and quite short, then I pulled on a blouse and a grey cardigan. I hesitated as I reached mum's half closed door, then pushed my way in, the room was dark but I made my way to where she was sleeping, ignoring the strange man sprawled next to her. She was curled in the covers, her eyes were wide open and staring vacantly at the closet opposite her, she looked tiny and very young, I crouched down next to her.

'It's sunny outside mum' I whispered.

'I'm just going to sleep in, just a minute longer' she replied.

'I've got to go to school' I said 'I'll see you tonight' I kissed her on the forehead then closed the door behind me.

School passed in an exhausted haze, I was barely awake and only really noticed one person throughout the whole day. Kitty just happened to turn up in black hot pants and a vest top and every guy in our school's eyes followed her everywhere, plus she was hanging off Jude Steele, laughing at everything he said. Like I said, dumb bimbos through themselves at those idiots. I shook my head in unsurprised disgust.

When creative writing class, last period, came along I was willing to collapse, I just wanted to be like mum and be able to spend the entire day lying around in bed and as I looked at the room in front of me and the person shoving their bag underneath the table angrily I realized Jude Steele was actually sitting next to me in creative writing. I inwardly groaned and made my way to the table, he looked up as I came and I felt his eyes wander to my bare legs.

'Hi' I muttered, sliding into my chair and getting out my books.

'Why do you hate me?' he asked.

'Just because we sit next to each other in one class doesn't mean we have to get along' I replied, staring straight ahead with my arms folded.

'That doesn't explain why' he pointed out.

I glared at him 'shut up' I said fiercely.

'I'm lovely really' he continued 'I like your skirt by the way.'

'Of course you do' I replied.

'See you have no reason to hate me. Look I have a peace offering' I turned to see him holding a cupcake with blue icing and blue sprinkles.

'You have a cupcake peace offering?' I said, in disbelief. I couldn't help but smile at the ridiculousness of it 'do you give cupcakes to everyone who hates you.'

'Yeah, I just have a supply in my bag' he said sarcastically 'no you're just special.'

I took it out of his hand and put it in front of me, it smelt amazing. 'This doesn't make up for anything, but I only dislike you now' I decided.

'Wicked awesome,' he grinned 'so why do you dislike me then.'

I stared in front as Ms Siler began talking 'think about what you are.'

'Male' he whispered.

'That's not it.'

'Eighteen.'

'Nope.'

'Ermm...'

'Not that either' a smile played about my lips.

'God's gift to women.'

I raised my eyebrow 'it's definitely not that.'

'Okay I give in what is it?'

'Jock' I replied.

'How can you hate jocks?' he demanded, he actually looked appalled which was quite entertaining, 'they make NORMAL girls weak at the knees.'

'So I'm not normal?' I stared at him, gaze un-quavering. He opened his mouth to reply as Ms Siler started shouting.

'Hazel, and Mr. Steele, this is not the time for talking. Silence or detention tomorrow.'

He shut his mouth and I turned away from him, pushing the cupcake to his side of the desk.

Jude's POV

Okay, so my day had gone great until it got to last period. I woke up, it was sunny for the first time in months, and managed to beat my record for number of press-ups in five minutes, 187 wasn't bad but I would make it to 200 someday soon. Plus when I got to school everyone was cheerful, the first sunny day of the year does that to people, plus Kitty was wearing a pair of hot pants which were much appreciated especially since she kept hanging off me. It's never exactly a bad day when every teenager's wet dream is standing next to you, not that she's mine. Even creative writing class started off well. I don't think I've ever felt more out of place in a class before but I didn't let that get me down, I had football training after and that weird chick I sat next to came in wearing a mini skirt. But of course she was the only person who could be miserable while it was sunny and everyone else was so happy. She wouldn't even say thanks after I thoughtfully gave her a cupcake that Kitty had given me that morning.

I couldn't even be bothered to find out what her problem was and just went straight to football training for half an hour before coach called it off because his sister went into labor or something.

As I left the changing rooms I noticed how gray the sky looked, it looked like there would be a storm or something, it was good that I had driven my dad's car to school this morning. I walked across the concrete grounds between the Science and English blocks and saw a familiar skirt coming out of the English block. That Hazel girl was on the phone, walking slowly and twirling her hair so I guessed instantly who she was talking to. I wished that jerk off Samuels still came to this school so I could come up with some excuse to punch his smug face in.

'That's so sweet' she said, she sounded a lot nicer when her voice wasn't filled with hate I noted. I walked forwards as she stopped, turning to face the tennis courts and grinning stupidly. 'I miss you so much, I hope you had a good day' there was a pause while he spoke to her I guess 'I wish I could have been there, I love you.'

I rolled my eyes, love had to be the dumbest idea ever. It made people miserable, and made them do the stupidest things, it made there judgment go all strange and took their minds off the finer points of life. Who wants to sleep with only one person anyway?

I got in my car just as the sky opened and rain poured down, slamming against my car until it was hard to see what was in front of me. I reversed so I was facing the exit them someone caught my eye, Hazel was standing completely still, probably in shock at the fact that she was so insanely wet. They skirt didn't look so good anymore. I rolled down my window.

'Fancy a shower?' I asked grinning.

'Shut. Up' she shivered, walking forward, wrapping a thin, soaking wet cardigan around herself. I felt a bit bad, she looked freezing and I was just sitting, dry in a car mocking her. I looked around at the plush interior, wondering how badly dad would kill me if I got it wet, I shrugged then leant out the window.

'Do you want a lift?' I asked.

'What?' she demanded, her lips were turning blue. 'Of course I don't want a lift with you.'

'You'll probably get hypothermia and die if you walk home' I said, I watched her eyes calculate.

'I'll hitch a lift' she retorted.

'Fine, get killed' I leant back in.

'Wait' she called and I looked back out at her 'you're not trying to hit on me are you?'

I can't say I hadn't been expecting that one 'as much as I would love to sleep with that's tool Ethan Samuel's girlfriend just to piss him off, I can honestly say I'm not.'

'He's not a tool' she sighed 'fine, thanks.' She ran round the back of the car and jumped in. She looked pathetic, with her hair dripping, plastered to her face, goose bumps on her skin, make up running and legs bare. As I pulled the gear stick I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of them, the skirt was just asking for it really, for a loser girl her legs were surprisingly nice.

'What are you doing?' she asked.

I shook my head, grinning and driving the car forward 'nothing.'

'Whatever you do, don't crash.'

'I'm not an idiot' I responded 'don't doubt my skills.'

'Hmm' she replied, staring out the window, clearly uncomfortable.

'So why don't you like jocks?' I asked.

'What's there to like about them?' she replied, her voice was so serious I was shocked. No one hated us. No one normal.

'A lot' I decided.

'I have bad experiences' she replied in a clipped voice, 'why don't you think I'm normal.'

'Do you think you are?' I asked.

She didn't reply.

'Fine, where do you live?'

She gave me the instructions then we sat in silence. I didn't care, really. She was so negative that talking to her just made me unhappy, I was sure there was a reason for it, probably Samuel's idiotic 'tortured' thing had made her think life was bleak. It was a shame really.

As I pulled up outside her house I said 'just one more thing.'

She pushed open the door, it was raining less heavily now 'what?' she asked.

'Will you take my cupcake?' I held it out and for a moment before the door closed, she smiled. It suited her.